Attorney General's News Release

June 8, 2007

Kansas City used car dealer engaged in title fraud, operated without a dealer’s license, Nixon says in lawsuit

Independence, Mo. — A Kansas City woman who engaged in title fraud and continued to run her auto dealership after her dealer’s license was revoked is facing a lawsuit from Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon filed his lawsuit seeking an injunction, restitution and penalties against Tiffany McCord of Kansas City, who does business as McCord Motors, on Thursday (June 7) in Jackson County Circuit Court. McCord Motors is located at 17520 E. Highway 24 in Independence.

According to Nixon, McCord’s auto dealer’s license was revoked on May 1 of this year, yet she continued to present herself to the public as an authorized car dealer. Nixon says she also allegedly violated state consumer protection laws by failing to transfer title to motor vehicles to consumers at the time of sale.

At least fifteen consumers have filed complaints about the defendant with the Attorney General’s Office, Nixon says, which have included additional allegations about McCord. These include misrepresenting to consumers the terms of financing to be provided on purchased vehicles, and that the defendant could provide installment-payment financing for consumers for vehicles purchased and could obtain such financing agreements for consumers with lending institutions. Other complaints alleged that the defendant engaged in false pretenses to get consumers to return to the dealership after the sale, whereupon McCord would state that the financing had fallen through, take possession of the vehicle and refuse to refund payments made by the consumer to purchase the vehicles.

Nixon is seeking an injunction barring the defendant from continuing to violate Missouri consumer protection laws. The Attorney General’s lawsuit also requests that the court order McCord to pay restitution to consumers, civil penalties and all court and investigative costs of the case.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818